SALT AND NOTHINGNESS

A Mantra from Jesus through Sartre towards Reduced Inequalities

Authors

  • Avaneesh M University of Kerala

Keywords:

Economics of Enough, Jesus and Sartre, Jesus and Sustainability, Reduced Inequalities, Religion and Development, Religion and Sustainability, Sacred and Secular, Sustainability Mantra

Abstract

Abstract

In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus unravelled the essence of humankind through the metaphor of ‘salt’, and centuries later, Jean-Paul Sartre named ‘nothingness’ as the reality of the human being. This article, by drawing parallels between ‘salt’ and ‘nothingness’, argues that, though from radically different schools of thought, Jesus and Sartre, in effect, are making the same point that all human beings, irrespective of race, sex, ethnicity, or social status, hold within them the undeniable potential to question and negate the status quo to bring about a sustainable change in the world. Adopting ‘salt and nothingness’ as a single mantra could effectively conceive development plans and actions to curb extreme inequalities, thereby fostering a sustainable society. By exposing the relevance of Jesus’ word in today’s world, the article emphasises the need to bridge the gap between the ‘sacred’ and the ‘secular’ so that religious values can be effectively incorporated into achieving United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030, especially towards Reduced Inequalities (SDG-10).

Author Biography

Avaneesh M, University of Kerala

Avaneesh M, who calls himself The Selfish Philosopher, is a PhD Research Scholar at the Department of Philosophy, University of Kerala, Kariavattom. Besides Philosophy, he has backgrounds in Psychology and Counselling.

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Published

2022-09-30

How to Cite

M, A. (2022). SALT AND NOTHINGNESS: A Mantra from Jesus through Sartre towards Reduced Inequalities. Journal of Dharma, 47(3), 321–340. Retrieved from https://dvkjournals.in/index.php/jd/article/view/3759